TalkSPORT man drops huge prediction

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has backed Russell Martin’s “scrumptious” soccer to achieve the Championship and expects Southampton to be combating for the title subsequent season.

What is the newest Southampton information?

Following a season by which Southampton completed rock bottom of the Premier League, burned by way of three completely different managers and performed some really dismal soccer, it is comprehensible that there could also be some warning amongst Saints followers.

The arrival of Russell Martin from Swansea Metropolis has been trigger for optimism amongst sections of the fan base who’re hopeful of a fast return to the English top-flight.

Martin’s solely sport in cost up to now was a 4-2 win over League One aspect Studying in pre-season and the 37-year-old has his work lower out to get the Saints into form earlier than their Championship opener in opposition to newly-promoted Sheffield Wednesday on August 4th.

Nevertheless, MacAnthony is a giant fan of his former Peterborough participant Martin, backing him to succeed with the Saints and mildew them right into a workforce able to combating for the title.

Talking on talkSPORT about final season’s relegated Premier League sides within the second division, MacAnthony stated: “I actually did suppose Leeds and Leicester would vie for the title. Southampton, now Russell’s in there, and I had Russell Martin in 2021 as one in every of our signings at right-back, I fancy what he’ll do [at Southampton].

“Your two guys in right here that do the information are Southampton followers and I stated to them the soccer goes to be scrumptious. I actually suppose Southampton and Leicester now for me for the title. Leeds must do some enterprise, it is a concern.”

In relation to director of soccer Rasmus Ankersen’s resolution to deliver Nathan Jones in final season as supervisor, he added: “The error for me was the transfer for clearly Nathan Jones. If Russell Martin had gone to Southampton as a substitute of Nathan Jones on the time, Southampton would nonetheless be within the Premier League.”

Southampton followers can be hopeful that MacAnthony’s glowing reward of Martin is supported by outcomes on the pitch when the season begins up once more.

Martin nonetheless has work to do within the switch market as properly, with offers for Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento and James Ward-Prowse probably incomes the membership a fortune that may be reinvested throughout the workforce.

The Saints have two more pre-season friendlies on the calendar with house video games in opposition to Bournemouth and AZ Alkmaar enabling Martin to fine-tune his tactical method on the south coast.

Who’re Southampton signing?

What Martin does in relation to incomings within the closing month of the switch window will show pivotal for the Saints.

Martin has brought full-back Ryan Manning with him from Swansea already and has additionally added younger Manchester Metropolis prodigy Shea Charles to his squad.

The likes of Mislav Orsic, Ibrahima Diallo, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Theo Walcott have all left, with many extra outgoings possible.

Rumours relating to incomings have been remarkably sparse nevertheless, with Martin maybe ready for giant gross sales to undergo earlier than addressing the areas of his workforce that require enchancment.

One man that has been linked with St Mary’s is Leicester midfielder Hamza Choudhury who has returned to the Midlands following a Championship mortgage with Watford final time period. Martin is reportedly a giant fan of the defensive midfielder however whether or not the Foxes would promote to a promotion rival is unclear.

One other midfielder on the membership’s radar may very well be Flynn Downes of West Ham United, who may very well be supplied as a part of a deal for Ward-Prowse, though reviews have prompt the Saints are not interested within the 24-year-old.